Portugal, Algarve, Ludo Trail, Ria Formosa Natural Park, Nov. 20, 2015

The last day of our holiday we again had very nice weather, and a nice walk along the Ludo Trail just west of the Faro Airport. The trail is situated in the Ria Formosa Natural Park, The Ria Formosa Natural Park is a barrier between the Atlantic and the mainland and is further protected by several islands, which are basically large sand dunes. In between these islands and the mainland are large areas of dunes and lagoons, small sand isles, mud flats and canals. This provides a wonderful habitat for flora and fauna, especially birds.

We parked next to the airport and walked on the trail in the direction west. Unfortunately we did not have time to walk the two other legs to the north, and we did not get a close look at the flamingoes.

On our way

The northern shoveler (Anas clypeata), skeand.

The Eurasian wigeon, (Anas penelope), Pibeand

Flamingos in the distance

The white stork (Ciconia ciconia)

Ringed Plover (Charádrius hiaticula), Stor præstekrave

The trail over the lagoon to the barrier island and the beach.

The beach

Ruddy turnstone, (Arenaria interpres), Stenvender

Everywhere on the shallow mudflats you find people collecting mussels and worms for bait

Common redshank (Tringa totanus), Rødben

Western swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio), Sultanhøne

Azure-winged magpie (Cyanopica cyanus), Blåskade

Hoopoe (Upupa epops), Hærfugl

Little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), lille lappedykker

The common greenshank (Tringa nebularia), Hvidklire